Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
Review of Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM zoom lens. Review created 2008, latest update 2013.
Facts
- a lens that many dream about
- estimated retail price 2000 EUR
- in my use from 6/2008 to 11/2008
- I still have mixed feelings about this lens: you don't really know how it fits to your style of shooting until you try it
Pros
- perhaps the best zoom lens available offering a mixture of good low light performance and high image quality combined with the versatility of a zoom
- top-notch mechanical construction
- colors, definition and bokeh are in par with the best primes like Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM and Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM
- from f/5.6 the sharpness and contrast are in par with the best primes like Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM and Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM
- IS works well
- you will look like a pro
Cons
- the weight slowed me down too much when shooting
- is a pain to be carried around due to its size and weight
- due to weight the lens is not recommended for the smallest bodies (Canon xxxxD and xxxD series) and I recommend to use a battery grip with medium-sized bodies (Canon xxD series)
- although sharp enough wide open (f/2.8) the primes are still sharper at f/2.8 (even mid-priced primes)
- when the light goes down you can stretch it with f/2.8 and IS but f/1.8 and f/1.4 primes (50 mm and 85 mm) will soon start to outperform